Which Card Should I Get?

Supra_SoldierSupra_Soldier Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 12993Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">BFG 6800 Ultra OC vs Asus AX800 XT</div> First of all, let me start by saying please don't turn this into a "ATI so pwns nVidia" back and forth thread <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->.

Anyway here's the deal: I've been saving for a very long time to to buy myself a nice gfx card and I finaly decided now is the time to buy. Unfortunatly my first two choices for cards have been out of stock everywhere I go, so this has given me extra time to look around and compare specs, and here is where I ran into my problem.

Currently I have a Radeon 9700 Pro and I was planning on getting an X800 XT P.E. card when I read a review of the $499.00 BFG GeForce 6800 Ultra OC in PCGamer and they pretty much said it was the fasted card available, period. So I went ahead and ordered that card when I found a place that had it stock.

About a week later, when I'm wondering where the hell my investment is, I get an e-mail that says its out of stock and they don't expect to get it for at least a month (fyi this was Fry's Outpost.com which I'll never order from again) so I was a little miffed and decided to cancel the order and look elsewhere, when I came across the Asus AX800 XT at newegg.com for $589.00.

Needless to say this was more than the BFG 6800 but I already know and trust my ATI 9700 Pro and my Asus Mobo and optical drives so you can kinda see my predicament:

To spend more money and buy from a company I trust, or to pay less and wait possibly a month for the (supposedly) fasted AGP card available.

Wow, that was more than I had planed to type, anyway the NS community is really the only community I know and I don't personnaly know anyone who knows alot about gfx technology so I was hoping some of the techies here could lend a hand. Here are the links to each card, including their specs.

<a href='http://www.bfgtech.com/6800.html' target='_blank'>BFG GeForce 6800 Ultra OC</a>

<a href='http://usa.asus.com/products/vga/ax800xt/overview.htm' target='_blank'>Asus AX800 XT</a>

Any help is apreciated, and please, don't flame me <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->.
Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome

Comments

  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    oh god I hear Talesin from here
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • Supra_SoldierSupra_Soldier Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 12993Members, Constellation
    <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    Its a serious post, I need help making a big purchase.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • Invader_ScootInvader_Scoot Join Date: 2003-10-13 Member: 21669Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    9700 Pro? You don't need to upgrade, you'll probably just waste your money. I say just wait for the next big cards to be released, then look around at those. But if you really are wanting to upgrade, which you don't need to yet, I'd say go with the ATi card. I prefer ATi over Nvidia for the reason that 2 of my friends got Nvidia cards. 1 of the friend's computer is constantly crashing due to the crappy card, and the my other friend has gone through about 4 of them because they just fry themselves and explode.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • NuubNuub Join Date: 2004-01-05 Member: 25059Members
    Hmm, the 9700 Pro, if youre really thinking of changing sell that to me <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> naah, i couldnt even afford it even if wanted to. I dont think you really need a new card right now, that should do for some time.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • StrabismoStrabismo Join Date: 2003-10-27 Member: 22052Members
    edited September 2004
    considering only the performance and the price, you should buy a 6800, PRO or GT, it beats the X800 running D3
    <a href='http://www2.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjQyLDI=' target='_blank'>Doom3 benchmark</a>
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • BaconTheoryBaconTheory Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
    edited September 2004
    My thoughts have always been that this is personal preference. The 6800 GT and the X800 XT PE are both excellent cards. Invader Scoot doesn't know what he is talking about, all of my friends except 1 have Nvidia cards and their computers haven't been screwed up at all. However, my friend with the ATi card loves it to death. Its all a matter of what you really want. However, the X800 XT performed slightly better in benchmark tests to the 6800 GT.

    Here are some reviews that might help you:

    <a href='http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040504/index.html' target='_blank'>Radeon X800</a>

    <a href='http://graphics.tomshardware.com/quickbyte/20040617/index.html' target='_blank'>GeForce FX 6800</a>

    EDIT: This is my <b>666</b>th post... <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • raz0rraz0r Join Date: 2003-07-24 Member: 18395Members
    edited September 2004
    But the X800 XT PE Slaughters everything in <a href='http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=1193&s=5' target='_blank'>The HL2 Stress Test</a>

    I'm going for the HIS excalibur with that huge cooler personally


    [EDIT:]Skidzor, he was talking about the Ultra version, not the GT
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • Supra_SoldierSupra_Soldier Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 12993Members, Constellation
    edited September 2004
    Here the problem, I just got an hand-me-down computer from my sister that has good specs (1.8 ghz proc, 512 ram) except for the the graphics card, which is some ancient 64mb thing that can barely run NS. I was ganna put the 9700 Pro in the hand-me-down and have myself some LAN fun in Splinter Cell:PD among other games <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->.

    Edit: Whoa, a lot of ppl posted while I was typing, this post was aimed at Invader Scoot's and Nuubs postings.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • BaconTheoryBaconTheory Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
    Supra Soldier...your CPU is pretty old it seems. I had 1.8GHz on my 3-year-old Dell. If you want to have some "LAN Fun" I would suggest getting a new CPU. However, putting the 9700 in it and getting a new vid card is a good idea.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • IsamilIsamil Join Date: 2003-11-25 Member: 23552Members, Constellation
    Strbismo has no idea what he's talking about by the way...
    For one, with every driver ATI has released D3 performance has gotten better, I really don't know where they stand now. Doom 3 is also really the own game Nvidia had a good lead in.

    (get the X800XTPE)
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • Invader_ScootInvader_Scoot Join Date: 2003-10-13 Member: 21669Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    Whoa after looking at those graphs in the link that Razor posted, I would sure as hell go for the X800.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • Supra_SoldierSupra_Soldier Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 12993Members, Constellation
    raz0r - got a link to that HIS excalibur? The only one I could find was PCI-E, which I don't have, both the comps I'm working with are AGP.

    Also, I just looked closer at the Asus card, its comes with a web cam, CS:CZ and Deus X 2, which kinda makes up for the price difference, atm I think I'm leaning towards the AX800 XT.

    Also, if you know of a better aftermarket company rework of either of the base cards let me know, I just picked Asus because I have a lot of Asus hardware already and I'm pleased with the company. Thanks for all your help so far guys.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • raz0rraz0r Join Date: 2003-07-24 Member: 18395Members
    edited September 2004
    <a href='http://www.hisdigital.com/html/product_ov.php?id=126&view=yes' target='_blank'>HERE's</a> a link to the official site, i'll try and find a retailer in the US, as I've been looking in the UK for one

    [EDIT:] it looks like you can get CS;CZ with it, but i'm not sure how it works.

    [EDIT2:]You can get them <a href='http://superpcmart.com/products/brand.cgi?manID=48&PHPSESSID=106ed4fd6f8a0b0725ae2bc5cb413e53' target='_blank'>HERE</a>, but i believe theyre currently out of stock.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • NarfwakNarfwak Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5258Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Supporter, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Diamond, Reinforced - Shadow, Subnautica PT Lead, NS2 Community Developer
    <!--QuoteBegin-Skidzor+Sep 11 2004, 08:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Skidzor @ Sep 11 2004, 08:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Supra Soldier...your CPU is pretty old it seems. I had 1.8GHz on my 3-year-old Dell. If you want to have some "LAN Fun" I would suggest getting a new CPU. However, putting the 9700 in it and getting a new vid card is a good idea. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Word. By the sound of it, your RAM is probably a bit slow, too. You need a new system, not a new card.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • BaconTheoryBaconTheory Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Narfwak+Sep 11 2004, 10:35 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Narfwak @ Sep 11 2004, 10:35 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> You need a new system, not a new card. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    What he said. But since you probably dont want to build a new system, thats out of the question.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • Supra_SoldierSupra_Soldier Join Date: 2003-02-02 Member: 12993Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Narfwak+Sep 11 2004, 10:35 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Narfwak @ Sep 11 2004, 10:35 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Skidzor+Sep 11 2004, 08:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Skidzor @ Sep 11 2004, 08:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Supra Soldier...your CPU is pretty old it seems. I had 1.8GHz on my 3-year-old Dell. If you want to have some "LAN Fun" I would suggest getting a new CPU. However, putting the 9700 in it and getting a new vid card is a good idea. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Word. By the sound of it, your RAM is probably a bit slow, too. You need a new system, not a new card. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Oh, I think you misunderstood the post. I have two computers now, my computer, which currently has the ATi Radeon 9700 Pro in it, and my sisters old computer which is the 1.8 ghz, 512 Ram. I'm going to buy a new card for my computer and take the 9700 Pro out, and put it in my sisters old computer. That way I can play LAN games across the two. My computer is fine (Athlon 64 FX-51, 2 GB of Ram).
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • NarfwakNarfwak Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5258Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Supporter, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Diamond, Reinforced - Shadow, Subnautica PT Lead, NS2 Community Developer
    Oh. Well, that's makes things a bit more clear.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • t20t20 Join Date: 2004-08-19 Member: 30718Members
    edited September 2004
    Totally depends what games you want you play and how long until you upgrade again, imo. If you plan to upgrade again in a year or so, and play farcry or plan to play HL2 in 1600x1200+ with max everything; then go for the X800. However, if you like doom3, quake 4, and the many others that will be based off it (think Call of duty etc). Then get the 6800 ultra.

    If I were you, I would save myself some money and get a 6800GT. My reasons' being that it beats the X800 XTPE in d3, and will do so in anything based off the engine. It also performs +-15% of the X800 Pro. Finally, it is future proof, available, runs every current game excellently and will only get better with Nvidia's drivers (already boosted performance ~20% with just 2 driver releases). But most importantly, you save yourself a lot of $$$ that you can spend elsewhere, or maybe save up for a Direcx10 card <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    EDIT: typos
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
  • IsamilIsamil Join Date: 2003-11-25 Member: 23552Members, Constellation
    He has an FX-51, I think he wants the best.
    Off Topic Disagree Agree Awesome
Sign In or Register to comment.